Liver storage iron in Canadians

Abstract
Liver samples were collected at 105 (78 males and 27 females) autopsies carried out on accident victims in seven cities of Canada. The age of individuals ranged from newborn to 89 years but about 75% of them were 19 to 65 years old. The liver iron stores of males were high at birth (150 to 300 µg/g), decreasing to around 100 µg/g in the second year. This level was maintained up to about 15 years and then increased to approximately 250 µg/g in 2 to 3 years. After 55 years, the hepatic iron stores tended to decrease. Although the number of samples from females was small, there was an indication of high stores (above 200 µg/g) at birth followed by a decline to values from 50 to 150 µg/g. This level was generally maintained in females throughout life. Storage iron in the livers of stillborn infants was high, ranging from 200 to 1600 µg/g. Analysis of liver samples from 64 persons (50 males and 14 females) who died of cardiovascular disease showed that males under 45 years had lower iron stores than the corresponding accident victims.

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